There is a large collection of letters written to Aikenhead by clerics, lay individuals and Sisters from other convents. The following examples give some indication of the range of material available:

Letters to Mother Mary Aikenhead:

6: 13 April 1814: from the Rev. Daniel Murray, Archbishop of Dublin to Rev Mother/Bar Convent. 'Mrs Coyney' in pencil. While awaiting the Constitutions of the Sisters of Charity he sends an 'outline of their plan of life' of which he speaks. Dr Everard has recommended a Mrs Moore (nee Taaffe) to join them as matron. F[rances] Ball is hopeful of accomplishing her purpose of joining your community and is trying to obtain her mother's consent, 2 pages.

10: 6 December 1815: from the Rev. Daniel Murray, Archbishop of Dublin from Rome to Mrs Aikenhead North William Street, care of Mrs Mooney, 41 Cumberland Street, Dublin. He has obtained power from the Holy See for the Archbishop of Dublin to erect a Congregation of the Sisters of Charity according to the rules of the Convent of York: he wishes it to be under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin. Discusses the Constitution, spiritual advice for the formation of 'the little flock'.

60: 9 August 1837: from Corneilius O'Sullivan Mount Street to Mrs Aikenhead, Sandymount, deals with Mrs Verschoyle's legacy of debentures to Mary Aikenhead as Prioress of Sandymount.

88: 14 November 1845: from Mother Mary Chantal Coleman, Rectress Cork. Write for the first time from the beautiful convent. Describes a visit to the North Presentation [?] Convent and the move to the new house.

103: 1 June 1847, from Mother Mary Chantal Coleman, Rectress Cork. 'fever is still raging in every direction ... in fine the people are awe stricken'.

120: 9 December 1851: from Mother Mary Chantal Coleman, Rectress Cork. The four Misses O'Regan have offered £400 to start a school immediately because of the hundreds taken to proselytising schools.

209: Letter from J.W. Farrall 38 Rutland Square to Mrs Aikenhead accepting 'office of first medical advisor to the hospital' and praising the ability with which its plans had been conceived and the skill and energy employed in its completion. 'I have no doubt it will prove a lasting advantage to the country - offering peculiar comforts to the invalid and serving ... as a model for the improvement of other public institutions'.

235: 22 December 1848: from Sr M. Cahill, Convent of the Sisters of Charity Hobart Town, (Australia) to Mother Mary Aikenhead. She sends a translation done on the journey out in 1839. They have a poor school of about 80 children, now paid for by the government. Refers to 'awful times in poor dear Ireland'.

• Catholic Church Search Repository Site
• Education Search Repository Site
• Famine Search Repository Site
• Hospitals Search Repository Site
• Missionaries Search Repository Site
• Poverty Search Repository Site
• Religion Search Repository Site
• Welfare Search Repository Site

A specific reference number precedes the description of the document. This number is needed to call up each document.